Short answer: this free Christmas countdown checklist spreads the season over six weeks, with three small jobs per week and a “don’t forget” line at the bottom. It fits on one US Letter page. Start it in mid-November, stick it on the fridge, and December stops feeling like one long to-do list.
Download the free Christmas countdown (PDF)
One page, US Letter, free for personal use. Please don’t resell or re-upload it.
Why six weeks, and only three things a week
Most holiday checklists I’ve seen list forty jobs and leave you to figure out the order. That’s how December 20th turns into wrapping at midnight. This one does the opposite: six calm weeks, one small list at a time. Three jobs is enough to feel like you’re ahead, and few enough that you actually finish them.
The order matters too. Things that sell out or take time to arrive go first. Things that make the house feel festive go in the middle. The last week is about rest, not tasks.
Six and five weeks out: the things that run out
Order the Christmas bedding. The prettiest plaid and flannel sets are usually gone by mid-November. If you want a holiday bed this year, this is the week. My shortlist is in the best Christmas comforter sets.
Write the gift list, one line per person. Just a name and one idea. If you’re stuck, these help: gifts for new homeowners, hostess gifts they’ll actually use and gifts for coffee lovers.
Mix a batch of cocoa-in-a-jar gifts. They keep for months, so making them early takes a whole category off the December list. Here’s one recipe with three gift levels.
Five weeks out, pick one color story for the whole house (red and green, or neutrals with brass, but one), print the gift tags and jar labels, and check the lights before you need them. The free tags and labels are in the hot cocoa bar printables.
Four and three weeks out: make it feel like Christmas
Swap in winter textiles. A heavier throw on the sofa and plaid pillow covers do more than a box of ornaments. If your throw is looking tired, here are faux fur throws worth the money.
Style the coffee table: a tray, some greenery, one candle. That’s the formula, and these twelve coffee table ideas show it in different styles. Then wash the guest bedding while you still have time to dry it properly.
Three weeks out, the tree goes up: lights first, ornaments second. Set up the hot cocoa bar on December 1, so it gets a full month of use. The setup is in the Christmas hot cocoa bar guide. And wrap two gifts a night, not twenty on the 23rd.
Two weeks out and the last week: slow down on purpose
Two weeks out, make up the guest bed, stock candles, cocoa and something to snack on, and send the cards. Or decide you won’t this year. Deciding counts as done.
The last week has the most important box on the sheet: clear one surface in every room, plan one quiet night with no plans, and leave something undone on purpose. I mean that last one. A cozy Christmas isn’t a perfect one. It’s the one where you had time to sit down in it.
Questions people ask
When should I start the Christmas countdown?
Six weeks before Christmas, so around November 13. Starting later? Begin at the box that matches your week and skip anything that’s already past.
Can I print it on A4?
Yes. Choose “Fit to page” in your print dialog. Everything shrinks a little and stays readable.
What goes on the “Don’t forget” lines?
Anything that’s yours alone: a school concert, a recipe you only make once a year, the neighbor you always mean to drop cookies for.
Can I share it?
Please share the link to this page rather than the PDF itself. It’s free for personal use.
More for a cozy Christmas
- Free Hot Cocoa Bar Printables
- Christmas Hot Cocoa Bar
- Hot Cocoa in a Jar
- Christmas Coffee Table Decor
- Christmas Comforter Sets
- Christmas Gifts for New Homeowners
- Christmas Hostess Gifts
Three small things a week. That’s the whole plan.
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